Pull, Bail, Sharp and Spey

[JAlexander]

Phil,

You're a treasure.

 

[Woodrow F Call]

How does someone measure pull strength when opening a knife?
My nail broke, it must be an 8.

Bail half loops, like 'em or not?
My 1992 Camillus USMC Knife is the only one I have? I cut the ring eyelet off my Vic Farmer.

Do you have a traditional knife that you just can't sharpen?
Old USA Buck 305 is duller than this thread. Might be that it is so small to mess with.

Spey blades, what do you like about them?
I'm fresh out of livestock these days. Food prep, maybe?

Pick one or all four and share.

1. Dunno. I don't really use the scale, but I think it's based on feel. Pertinux answered it. I'll go read that thread in a min.

2. I like bails on the right knife. They just look cool.

3. Not really. I've only started to really really figure out sharpening though (I could get a useable edge, but nothing really sharp). I have a DMT aligner and a 30X hand held microscope that has enlightened me.

4. I don't like a little bitty spey. I like the ones on Big Stockmen knives and Trappers. Food prep and skinning are good chores for them.

4.

 

[CoffeeCat2112]

Like knarfeng, I consider a SAK (Pioneer, to be specific) to be the ideal pull. That's a 5 for me.

I like the way bails look, but not always how I have to hold a knife because of them.

Not really, but then I don't take a lot of time to get hair-whittling sharp. As long as I can curl the edge of paper or easily shave my arm, that's good enough, and that's easy to do.

I have one spey-bladed knife; it was a gift. I can see the blade's value for food prep, but I don't know if I'd actually go out looking for another spey-bladed knife, either.

 

[pmew]

How does someone measure pull strength when opening a knife?
My nail broke, it must be an 8.

Bail half loops, like 'em or not?
My 1992 Camillus USMC Knife is the only one I have? I cut the ring eyelet off my Vic Farmer.

Do you have a traditional knife that you just can't sharpen?
Old USA Buck 305 is duller than this thread. Might be that it is so small to mess with.

Spey blades, what do you like about them?
I'm fresh out of livestock these days. Food prep, maybe?

Pick one or all four and share.

I like a really strong pull on my knives. If there's no authority in it I just don't trust it.

I do not like bails. I mistakenly bought a GEC #68 Northfield instead of the Tidioute because I couldn't resist the long pull on the clip blade. The bail does my head in though and I wish I had gone Tidioute because I don't tend to carry it much.

I find my Trevor Ablett Barlow hard to sharpen, I am not sure what kind of steel they have used and just can't seem to work it out.

I have yet to get a knife with a spey blade, so I can't comment on them, I think I would prefer a stout one though.

Paul

 

[zippofan]

I'd like a medium to medium strong pull, 5-7, harder pulls always make me think I'm gonna lose a finger if I'm not really careful. I love bails, probably because of Scout knives having them, I like to clip them to a belt loop with a carabiner (Camillus "Demo", Case Scouts, etc).

As for sharpening, I have two that I can't get sharp, both of which had really oblique edges when I got them. I tried to get them sharp with a Lansky, then a DMT Aligner and I've given up on both for now until my sharpening skills improve. Both are Queen made, a single blade Heritage spear point jack and a Dan Burke Barlow.

Oh yeah, I like spey blades but they don't get a lot of use vs. a clip, spear, sheepfoot or pen.

 

[flatblackcapo]

I just learned how to put a number on the pull thanks to P and Richstag. That pic of your Grandmother is priceless Richstag!!
I love Bails ! They do not fit every knife but knives with them definitely catch my eye.
I have never had too hard of a time sharpening any traditionals.
I love a Spay for whittlin'. Just always has worked for me. I try not to think about the intended purpose of that blade A spay blade with a well placed swedge is gorgeous ! I think I saw one done on a Bose knife that made me wish I had a lot more money in the knife fund than I do.

 

[wlfryjr]

Spey blades are the most useful in skinning animals and were prolific on knives in yesteryear.Many came with the flesh only etch on the spey blade.